Hi Bernard, I am a history teacher who has never had a semblence of interest in the napoleonic wars but over the last year I have read the entire Sharpe series and I am definitely a convert. I have two related questions I would be obliged if you could answer. 1) The book I was least looking forward to was Sharpe’s Trafalgar but it turned out to be my favourite of the Sharpe series. I was hoping you could point me towards more nautical, seafaring novels – preferably set during the Napoleonic era. Do you have any recommendations?

Secondly, I have recently started teaching Napoleon at A level and one of the key questions surrounds Napoleon’s reputation as a military genius. I would like to hear your verdict. I get the impression from Sharpe’s Waterloo that perhaps you consider him to be a little over-rated as a general (consistent use of the column against the line, refusal to use rifles etc). I would be grateful for your responses. Thankyou, Steve Barry